The Major League Baseball Players Association submitted a counterproposal to team owners this week, addressing salary concerns and the length of a potential 2020 regular season.
The union circled back to a previous agreement between both sides on March 26, asking that players receive a full prorated salaries this year. It was in response to team owners requesting that players take further pay cuts based on a sliding scale.
What’s more, the MLBPA also pitched the possibility of a 114-game regular season that would begin on June 30 and end Oct. 31. To fit that many contests in a 124-day span will require creativity and many sacrifices.
The possibility of postponing the 2020 All-Star Game and Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium has previously been discussed, but under the union’s proposal, the events could have been moved to the offseason instead, via Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
In addition, the proposal allows for the possibility of an offseason Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic being pushed to the offseason would be unprecedented, as only once since 1963 has the exhibition contest been held outside of the month of July (1981).
That said, it may be the only path for the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby taking place at Dodger Stadium this year. By moving the All-Star Game to the offseason, fans may have a better chance of being allowed to attend.
This, of course, depends on a potential second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the development of a vaccine.
Should the All-Star Game be cancelled altogether, the Dodgers will have to wait until 2022 for another opportunity to host festivities. The Atlanta Braves were already awarded the 2021 Midsummer Classic.
Adrian Gonzalez previously explained why he believes the league and players would benefit from moving the All-Star Game to the offseason on a regular basis. Gonzalez also is among those against beginning the 2020 season with the Midsummer Classic.
But for now, much of it remains a moot point as MLB rejected the union’s proposal. And rather prepare a counter of their own, MLB reportedly is considering imposing a shorter season (50 or 60 games).
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